Trump’s shooting casts shadow over security at Republican National Convention

MILWAUKEE — Thousands of Republicans have descended on Milwaukee as an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump brings a heightened sense of security to the Republican National Convention this week.

Trump arrived in the city on Sunday ahead of the four-day event expected to reinvigorate Republicans as they formally choose him as their 2024 presidential candidate.

Many people arriving at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport wore bright red hats and shirts with bold text proclaiming well-known Trump slogans, but much of the conversation was about the bloodshed at the Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.

The shot, which the former president says pierced his ear, killed one supporter and wounded two others.

It also brought the growing polarization of the political atmosphere to the forefront of Americans’ attention and put an emphasis on security at the major Republican event.

The US Secret Service said they were confident in their current security plans for the convention, while Trump said in a social media post on Sunday that he considered postponing his trip but did not want to allow a shooter to force a program change.

— With files from the Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 15, 2024.

The Canadian Press